Ducks: The daily scrum

The Ducks got no favors on Saturday night as they prepared for a long-awaited home game with Chicago Sunday.

They know that the Blackhawks' flameout at the hands of the Kings Saturday will just make Chicago more urgent at Honda Center,

The Ducks, at 62 points, remain six points out of eighth-place. Dallas is in that spot with 68, and the Kings and Colorado also have 68. Calgary has 67, Minnesota 63.

Saturday:

Los Angeles 4, Chicago 0: Jeff Carter's arrival either coincided with or caused one of the Kings' better performances of the season. Captain Dustin Brown, heavily rumored to be traded before Monday, had a natural hat trick. Dustin Penner also awakened with five shots on goal in 11-plus minutes, and Jarret Stoll won 11 of 15 faceoffs. The Blackhawks did not have Jonathan Toews.

Philadelphia 5, Calgary 4 (SO): The Flames had a 3-0 lead over the defenseless Flyers, but Scott Hartnell's 30th goal tied it for the Flyers with 7:31 left. Then Matt Read won it in the shootout. The Flyers outshot Calgary bya frightful 45-21 margin. Matt Stajan, part of the package Calgary got from Toronto in exchange for Dion Phaneuf, scored in back-to-back games for the first time in two seasons.

Colorado 4, Detroit 3: The Avalanche, which plays host to the Ducks on Monday, continued its strong play by scoring twice in the first three minutes and hanging on. Steve Downie scored his second goal for the Avalanche in his first week with the team, Jean-Sebastien Giguere got the victory. Downie and Gabriel Landeskog each had six shots on goal.

Sunday:

Chicago at Anaheim: The Ducks must be worried about a slumbering Blackhawks power play that has not scored in its past 37 chances. The Kings drove Corey Crawford from the net Saturday, and the Ducks might see ex-teammate Ray Emery tonight. Jonas Hiller has given up nine goals to the Blackhawks in his past two games.

San Jose at Minnesota: The Sharks slipped into 7th in the conference when Phoenix passed them for the Pacific Division lead and haven't won at Minnesota in two seasons. But the Wild has scored only 15 goals in its past 11 games and dealt defenseman Marek Zidlicky to New Jersey two days ago.

Vancouver at Dallas: The Stars have won three consecutive games and Keri Lehtonen has given up one goal in its past two games. But Vancouver is tuning up for the playoffs on a 12-1-3 roll and hasn't lost to Dallas in six meetings.

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